Those That Remain

Detective Lucas has recently returned to work after a traumatic experience, although we don't know what that experience is. The story then jumps back eight months. Cue the deranged serial killer - The Mechanic - so named for the macabre way in which the victims bodies are displayed. The victims, members of traditional family units, are positioned inside their own cars, in their own garages, the father in the front seat with the two children in the back. All have been shot in the head. But why, in each case, has the mother been spared? This is what Detective Lucas needs to figure out. Lucas is at a stage in his life where he's cruising towards retirement and he doesn't want or need a crazed serial killer on his hands, especially not one that had been confirmed dead three years earlier. But The Mechanic has returned from the dead and Lucas has no option but to stop him.

I seem to remember that many years ago, serial killer novels were all the rage. I don't think they're as common these days, or maybe it's just that my reading tastes have changed. Either way, I haven't read a good serial killer book in a long time and so when I was offered the opportunity to review this book, I jumped at it. And boy, am I glad I did. This book ticked all the boxes for me - a sadistic, deranged serial killer, innocent victims that (mostly) pull at the heart strings, a likable detective to support and a plot that moves along at pace. What's not to like? Not much actually. This was a pretty fine read. It took me a few chapters to get into the story, and I felt a tiny bit lost during the first chapter introducing The Mechanic, but I had a feeling that everything would come together, and it did. And it didn't take long for that to happen either. This is a ride that had my heart beating faster than normal, especially during the chapters about The Mechanic and the attacks launched on the innocent victims. This isn't a specifically violent novel, but some of the actions of The Mechanic did make me squirm, and so they should. This is, after all, a book about a serial killer. It was a great read. Loved it.

For those of you that decide to give this one a try, note that it's the first book in a trilogy. Yay! I'm looking forward to the others in the series.

My rating: * * * *

Many thanks to author Rob Ashman and TBC on Facebook for my copy. It was my pleasure to write a honest review.